Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Through its new Pact for the Mediterranean, the European Commission seeks to allocate at least €42 billion to strengthen cooperation with ten southern partner countries, including Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. According to a statement issued by the Belgian right-wing Vlaams Belang party, a copy of which we received, the plan officially focuses on "development and partnership," but it also opens the door to new legal migration channels. For example, the Commission seeks to facilitate visa issuance and expand "talent partnerships," particularly for young people and students from North Africa. According to the statement, Tom Vandendriessche, a Vlaams Belang MEP, warned: "The European Commission portrays migration as cooperation, but in reality, it is funding new migration channels to Europe."
The Commission claims that this billion-dollar investment will lead to "greater stability" and "shared prosperity" in the Mediterranean region, but in reality, it builds on the old model of migration as a development strategy. Through the "mobility packages," partner countries will be financially rewarded for their cooperation in managing migration, while Europe commits to opening up legal migration routes. In doing so, Brussels is re-creating the illusion that migration can be "managed" rather than restricted. According to Vandendriesch, this is nothing more than a new migration program that will increase migration pressure on Europe. "What they call a 'partnership of equals' is in fact a one-way street for migration and financial support."
"Instead of protecting our external borders, Europe is encouraging migration."
Vandensch warns that the plan, under the guise of economic cooperation and education, represents additional support for migration. "With €42 billion, Brussels wants to integrate North African countries into an expanding, borderless region," he says. "Instead of protecting our external borders, they are encouraging migration. This is absolute madness."
The agreement, which will be submitted to member states for approval in November, must be followed by a concrete action plan in the first quarter of 2026. Vandendriesch announced that his Vlaams Belang party would strongly oppose the proposal in the European Parliament. "The EU would be better off investing in revenues and border controls rather than visas and talent partnerships," Vandendriesch concluded. "As long as Europe views migration as a solution rather than a problem, the flow of migrants will continue to increase, with all the consequences for our security, identity, and social security."